Do you know what a church key is?

In My Humble Opinion
1

One of my colleagues, who makes jewelry as a hobby, brought a number of pieces to work today, including one rectangular pendant. I commented that it looked somewhat like a church key, and she nodded. A much younger colleague gave us both a blank look. I hadn’t realized until then that the expression may not be in common use any longer now that pull-tabs and twist-off tops are widespread. So I’m wondering how many Dopers know what a church key is, and if there is an age divide (and possibly a geographical divide).

As background, I grew up in rural western Ohio in the 50s and 60s. I remember hearing the term church key used for a bottle opener/can opener as far back as I can remember.

2

So…it’s not the key to a church?

::checks wiki page::

Oh! We call those bottle openers.

3

Over 40 and I remember using one. Total PITA.

4

Yes. And seat belts and lighters made for some good substitutes!

5

Low-tech bottle/can-openers have been called church keys for as long as I can remember. I’m 56. (but P-38s are different)

6

I know what a church key is and I’m a few years shy of 40.

7

Yes, but only because it was the subject of a thread in the past. I’ve never heard it used in real life.

8

This is what I remember being called a church key, never saw a bottle opener that went by that term.

9

Yes, but I was over 40 the first time I ever heard the term.

10

I know what it is, but wouldn’t naturally use the term anymore. I grew up in rural north-central Ohio.

11

I didn’t hear the term “church key” applied to a bottle opener until maybe the '70s.
I still have the P38 can opener I bought at a surplus store on Cape Cod in 1971.

ETA: I am 56.

12

Somehow we used to use the door striker plate on my 70’s-era Beetle for that too.

13

As did our kitchen drawer handle, despite my father’s exhortations to the contrary.

14

Ditto, but I quite like the expression.

15

A church key is a tool that either had just a pointy can opener on it for opening old beer and soda cans, or had both a pointy opener and a flat opener for opening both cans and bottles. Like these.

I’ve never heard of a sardine can opener being called a church key. I’m 63.

16

Could it have been Church Keys from 02-14-2007?

17

Yes, I do, but I learned it here from that thread. We always had them–I have one stuck to my fridge now–but I didn’t know that term. I always thought of it as a special kind of can-opener.

18

That was just a bottle or can opener depending on what needed opening. I guess it was just a family thing as to what was called what. I only remember using a sardine can opener/church key a few times in my youth.

ETA:Grew up in California 60’s-70’s

19

I’d heard the term but wiki says I had it all wrong. I’ve always called those bottle openers. I’ve used them before, though.

I’m 24.

20

I learned it the same as Runner Pat.